The Black Sox fight to reclaim the world title
The Black Sox have won silver at the Softball World Cup. The team has long been a dominant force in the sport, having won the Men's World Championship a total of seven times, becoming World Champions for the first time in 1976. NZ Softball Hall of Famer Jarrad Martin talked to Jesse.
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Otago Daily Times
41 minutes ago
- Otago Daily Times
Joseph named in Black Ferns World Cup squad
Otago halfback Maia Joseph has been named in the Black Ferns squad to defend their Rugby World Cup title next month. The Otago Spirit back is among the 33-strong squad heading to England unveiled at a function in Upper Hutt this evening. It will be the first pinnacle event for the 23-year-old, who has earned 11 caps since making her international debut last year. Stalwart playmaker Kelly Brazier — who hails from Dunedin — has also been selected for her fourth World Cup, at 35, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano and Stacey Waaka have been named for their third World Cup. Sevens stars Jorja Miller and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane have been included. Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee is the youngest to be named after the 18-year-old fullback's break out season. Matatu lock Laura Bayfield, who debuted for the Black Ferns against Australia earlier this month, has also been given the nod. She is joined by Matatu team-mates Alana and Chelsea Bremner, Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Amy du Plessis. But there is no room for winger Ruby Tui, who is the big omission from the squad after being dropped earlier this year. Matatu first five Hannah King, who was nominated for world breakthrough player of the year in 2024, has also been left out of the squad and is currently in South Africa with the Black Ferns XV. The Black Ferns are the defending champions after beating England 24-21 in front of a sold out Eden Park in 2022. Sixteen players from that squad return, including co-captains Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Tukuafu. Black Ferns director of performance Allan Bunting congratulated the 33 players selected. 'On behalf of the coaching group, I'd like to congratulate all our players named tonight in front of their whānau. We are really excited about this group and truly believe they can take us to the next level,' Bunting said. 'We've got vast experience across our squad, with more than half of our players having competed at pinnacle events. 'While it's an exciting time for those selected, I'd like to acknowledge the players who have missed out. Their contribution to the black jersey and to our team this year has been immense, and we wouldn't be where we are today without them. 'The level of depth and internal competition we have seen from our wider squad made the selection process very difficult, however this speaks to the growth and exciting future of women's rugby in Aotearoa.' The Black Ferns start their title defence against Spain on August 25. Black Ferns World Cup Squad Loosehead props *Kate Henwood (36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 10 Tests) Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (27, Blues, Waikato, 7 Tests) *Chryss Viliko (24, Blues, Auckland, 13 Tests) Hookers *Atlanta Lolohea (22, Blues, Canterbury, 7 Tests) *Vici-Rose Green (22, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 2 Tests) Georgia Ponsonby (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 31 Tests) Tighthead props Tanya Kalounivale (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 22 Tests) *Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 1 Test) Amy Rule (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 30 Tests) Locks *Laura Bayfield (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 1 Test) Alana Bremner (28, Matatū, Canterbury, 29 Tests) Chelsea Bremner (30, Matatū, Canterbury, 22 Tests) Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23, Blues, Auckland, 33 Tests) Loose forwards Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (23, Blues, Auckland, 29 Tests) *Jorja Miller (21, Black Ferns Sevens, Canterbury, 2 Tests) *Kaipo Olsen-Baker (23, Matatū, Manawatū, 12 Tests) *Layla Sae (24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 14 Tests) Kennedy Tukuafu (28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 30 Tests) Halfbacks *Iritana Hohaia (25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 17 Tests) *Maia Joseph (23, Matatū, Otago, 11 Tests) *Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (25, Black Ferns Sevens, Tasman, 2 Tests) First five-eighths Kelly Brazier (35, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 43 Tests) Ruahei Demant (30, Blues, Auckland, 45 Tests) Midfielders Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i Sylvia Brunt (21, Blues, Auckland, 25 Tests) Amy du Plessis (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 21 Tests) Theresa Setefano (30, Blues, Auckland, 19 Tests) Stacey Waaka (29, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 Tests) Outside backs Renee Holmes (25, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 23 Tests) Ayesha Leti-I'iga (26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 26 Tests) *Braxton Sorensen-McGee (18, Blues, Auckland, 3 Tests) *Katelyn Vahaakolo (25, Blues, Auckland, 17 Tests) Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (34, Blues, Northland, 27 Tests) Non-travelling reserve Krystal Murray (32, Chiefs Manawa, Northland, 14 Tests) *denotes first Rugby World Cup
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Black Ferns World Cup squad named: few surprises but no room for Ruby
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe returns for her third World Cup. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting has named his squad for the upcoming World Cup, with a settled looking 32 players set to defend their title. Despite a call up for the Black Ferns' last test, Ruby Tui has missed out on a place in the highly competitive outside back group. Unsurprisingly, all available Black Ferns Sevens players have been selected, with Jorja Miller's inclusion creating an intriguing situation in the loose forward mix. Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu is seemingly assured of a starting spot, so how Miller fits in the remaining starting spots will be interesting. 35-year-old Kelly Brazier will play in her fourth World Cup after earning a late lifeline against the Wallaroos earlier this month, which was her first test since 2021. Brazier - who has played 44 tests across a 16-year career - could be playing her fifth World Cup but missed the 2022 tournament due to being in the Black Ferns Sevens side. Lock Laura Bayfield makes the squad after debuting earlier this month, she joins Maiakawanakaulani Roos, and Alana and Chelsea Bremner. Fellow Sevens stars Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano (Fitzpatrick) and Stacey Waaka return for their third World Cup. Woodman-Wickliffe wasn't even supposed to be available after retiring last year and then signalling intentions to play in the NRLW, however the lure of the black jersey and another title has proven be too strong. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe of New Zealand during the O'Reilly Cup - New Zealand Black Ferns v Australia. Photo: Masanori Udagawa/Photosport Tukuafu is joined in the leadership by Ruahei Demant, with the Blues first five coming off back-to-back Super Rugby Aupiki titles. This will be a challenging campaign for the Black Ferns, with England hot favourites going into their home World Cup. The tournament kicks off on 23 August when the hosts take on USA in the tournament opener, with the Black Ferns facing Spain, Japan and Ireland in their pool matches. Loosehead props : Kate Henwood, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Chryss Viliko Hookers: Atlanta Lolohea, Vici-Rose Green, Georgia Ponsonby Tighthead props: Tanya Kalounivale, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Amy Rule Locks: Laura Bayfield, Alana Bremner, Chelsea Bremner, Maiakawanakaulani Roos Loose forwards: Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Layla Sae, Kennedy Tukuafu (cc) Halfbacks : Iritana Hohaia, Maia Joseph, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane First five-eighths: Kelly Brazier, Ruahei Demant (cc) Midfielders: Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Theresa Setefano, Stacey Waaka Outside backs: Renee Holmes, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Non-travelling reserve: Krystal Murray Black Ferns v Spain Kick-off: 4:30am Sunday 24 August York Community Stadium, York Black Ferns v Japan Kick-off: 1am Sunday 31 August Sandy Park, Exeter Black Ferns v Ireland Kick-off: 1:45am Sunday 7 September Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton Quarter-finals : 14-15 September Semi-finals: 20-21 September Final: 28 September
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Coach Says Women's Team Can 'Go For The World Cup' After Stunning OFC Victory
Solomon Islands national women's football team head coach Moses Toata says they have proven that winning at the highest level of the sport is possible if things are done right. The side defeated reigning champions Papua New Guinea 3-2 in the final of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) 2025 Women's Nations Cup tournament at the National Stadium in Suva last Saturday. Toata said the win meant a lot more than just winning the title. "I think for me, the victory is not just a victory, it is a milestone for football history," the Solomon Islands Football technical officer told RNZ Pacific from Honiara. "It opens up the mindset of people that winning at this level is possible. We just need to do the right things [and] get the right people on the team." Toata said the national men's team has struggled to win an OFC title and believes the women's team will find it easier to achieve such results. He said this was because the men's team have to face stronger opposition during the qualifiers. "The boys struggled to win at the top level like this, but for the women it will be easy for us to, you know, to go for the World Cup, for example," he said. He said the national women's team had a better chance to be successful because they did not have to play against tougher teams as compared to the men's. "If we can give the right support to the women's football, I think we will have a better chance of qualifying for the World Cup in the future." Toata said the win now gives them better ranking ahead of the next FIFA Women's World Cup cycle and a boost as they start preparing again for the Melanesian Cup tournament later this year. "What I got from Oceania Football is [that] they will use this (winning the Nations Cup) as the ranking for the World Cup qualifiers. That means we will be one of the seeded teams in the World Cup qualifying competition that will happen in February or March of next year," he said. "We just had a confirmation from OFC too that the Melanesian Spearhead Group will have the Prime Minister's Melanesian Cup at the end of this year. "So, that will be a platform where we can use to prepare our team for the the World Cup qualifiers next year." 'Incredible feeling' Toata said watching the team defeat PNG was "an incredible feeling to be the champions and to make history for our country", especially taking into account the preparation they went through. "It was something that makes us all proud," Toata said. "We knew it was not going to be easy playing against the quality side like PNG, but we had a solid game plan to try and beat them, but we knew we had to dig deep, and it did not come easy. "The girls gave everything they had in that match and I believe that is what was that was a success story about that competition. It was a big moment. It was history for for the country." The team played in Football Australia's PacificAus Sports Four Nations tournament in Canberra in February. They played against Vanuatu, Thailand Under-20 and the Australian youth team then, but did not do as well as expexcted. A change of coach was made after that event, with former national representative Batram Suri replaced by Toata. When the squad was announced, majority of their players missed the start of their training sessions because they were at the OFC Champions League with the Henderson Eeels. "Our preparation started off on the back foot because we had half of the team with the Henderson Eels so we had to train with other other players who were available in the training squad," he said. "And then we managed to get them when when all the players were back so I had to ask Solomon Football to put the girls into camp for three weeks so that we can have extra training sessions. "We approached the training really carefully, because I know we had a competition going on, and they have commitment with their clubs, and so we have to be really mindful of pushing them in the training camp, as well as letting them go during the weekends to play for their clubs. Yeah, so that was our preparation." The OFC Women's Nations Cup campaign in Suva was not a smooth run either. The side lost 3-1 to host Fiji in their opening game but returned to beat Vanuatu 2-1 and then Tonga 5-0 in their other pool matches. In the semifinals, they pipped Samoa 2-1 to line up their clash against PNG in the final. Toata said captain Ileen Pegi was their only overseas-based player, the star playing out of New Caledonia. He said the skipper led by example and was an inspiration to the side, especially after defying medical advise to play in the final, despite a calf injury. "So after our semifinal match against Samoa, she picked up a calf injury, and the physio told me Ileen could not play in the final," Toata said. "I went to see Ileen and asked her are you going to play? And she responded, yes and that was when I knew in my heart she has got something in her and she can do it even with the pain in her legs. "That is something extraordinary about Ileen. She is a fighter and she's a leader in the team and I always put my trust in her to lead the team." Thanking everyone supporting the team Toata and the team will enjoy the moment and return to start preparing for the Melanesian Cup event. Another good performance from the tournament will set them up for the World Cup qualifiers in 2026. He is asking for continued support from those who have helped them, while thanking them also for backing the team. "I would just want to sincerely thank everyone who are behind the team, the Solomon Islands Football Federation for their trust and support and and believe in this team and a special thank you to all the clubs who invested in the players to develop," he said. "We acknowledge the work they put in behind building the players for years, and I can only say that the result of today comes from the hard work that people put into developing players and giving them opportunities to compete and to develop." He said the local club competition has been the only platform where players have been able to compete in. And he acknowledge the sponsors of each clubs. "This win is also for them," he added.
